{"title":"Fragments of Silence","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe collection opposes the \u003cstrong\u003etransparent society\u003c\/strong\u003e, which \u003cstrong\u003eByung-Chul Han\u003c\/strong\u003e describes through its excessive display of meaningless fragments that replace authentic truth. The series starts with AI-generated images produced by Midjourney to depict unspoken truths about \u003cstrong\u003egender discrimination, environmental abandonment, child defenselessness, senior social isolation, and digital social separation\u003c\/strong\u003e. The artist selects one fragment from the \u003cstrong\u003eAI image\u003c\/strong\u003e to create an \u003cstrong\u003eencaustic painting\u003c\/strong\u003e through multiple applications of heated beeswax, Dammar resin, and pigment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach painting contains a hidden message of hope that relates to its theme and becomes visible only to viewers who stop to examine the piece carefully. The encaustic surface creates a protective space which hides the things that society chooses to disregard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eQR code\u003c\/strong\u003e next to each work enables users to access a PDF containing the original AI image, the Midjourney prompt, and additional brief information. The artwork reveals an unpleasant truth that challenges our understanding of the divide between digital art and handmade craftsmanship. The viewer can enter the space to experience a transition from unawareness to awareness, and from seeing only the surface to understanding the more profound meaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Fragments of Silence collection achieves \u003cstrong\u003epeaceful social transformation\u003c\/strong\u003e through its strong social commentary. The artwork converts suffering into presence while turning space into meaningful words that welcome all art enthusiasts, social advocates, and dreamers to experience more than a painting: to view it differently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e#SusanaBlanco #EncausticPainting #FragmentsOfSilence #SilentResilience #ArtWithPurpose #SocialTransformation #FeministArt #SustainableArt #ConsciousCollecting #TransparentSociety #ByungChulHan\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"forgotten-wisdom","title":"Forgotten Wisdom","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eSelected for the 52nd Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition at the Bahrain National Museum in 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by Dr Hasan Madan’s reflection in “Windows of Hope” that “Whenever a person has more knowledge, and his experiences stretch wider, the broader and richer their scope of observation becomes,” and his assertion that “Life, as one dramatist says, is the greatest author,” this encaustic triptych transforms a fragment of a weathered wooden railing bearing an elderly hand into a meditation on the isolation of age. The separated panels symbolise the widening gap between generations, critiquing a world that is too rushed to heed the wisdom of its elders. Within the cracked wood, the word “Care” is hidden in the wax, a gentle plea to nurture bonds that preserve knowledge, revealed only through a purposeful observation. This work draws from Byung-Chul Han’s philosophy of the transparent society, where truth fragments into meaningless data, mirroring how society overlooks the profound narratives of the aged in favour of superficial digital\u003cbr\u003eexchanges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original image was generated using AI in Midjourney, highlighting the paradox of digital abundance that conceals authentic experiences, much like Han’s critique of hypervisibility, which strips away depth. By selecting a fragment and rendering it in encaustic, I abstract the AI’s artificial reality into a tactile form, questioning how technology mediates our perception and fragments truth, aligning with the contest’s themes of knowledge and community. QR codes placed beside the work allow viewers to access the full AI-generated image, contrasting the “whole” digital illusion with the abstracted fragment and emphasising the effort required to uncover the essential, as Madan suggests through expanded observation. Rooted in the belief that pausing to listen reveals a resilient truth, the painting invites a return to empathy, thereby fostering cultural growth within Bahrain’s artistic ecosystem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlease go to the other page to view the original AI-generated image, with a highlighted box indicating the fragment extracted for this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e#susanablanco #encausticpainting #ForgottenWisdom #ReeshaWaQalam #ContemporaryArt #BahrainArt #ArtAndAgeing #HiddenMessages #AIandArt #abstract #encaustic\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Susana Blanco Art","offers":[{"title":"120 x 50 x 4 cm (Triptych)","offer_id":52418125267311,"sku":null,"price":3400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/files\/ForgottenWisdom-SusanaBlanco.jpg?v=1759319869"},{"product_id":"triumph-of-tenacity","title":"Triumph of Tenacity","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis encaustic painting reimagines a fragment of silenced struggle, drawn from a dynamic\u003cbr\u003escene of human endeavour, as a bold celebration of inner strength that defies imposed\u003cbr\u003eburdens. It speaks to a spirit that rises above obstacles with a quiet, determined smile,\u003cbr\u003eurging a breakthrough where fairness falters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeneath layers of wax, the word \u003cstrong\u003e“Come On”\u003c\/strong\u003e is etched, a spirited call to push forward and\u003cbr\u003euplift those weighed down by unseen loads, revealed only through a purposeful gaze.\u003cbr\u003eThe work challenges a world that overlooks the quiet victories of perseverance, inviting\u003cbr\u003eviewers to seek a more profound truth with intent. Rooted in the belief that encouragement\u003cbr\u003esparks resilience, it beckons us to embrace a vibrant hope that flourishes beyond the\u003cbr\u003eshadows of imbalance, illuminating a path to shared triumph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e#susanablanco #encausticpainting #TriumphOfTenacity #FragmentsOfSilence #FeministArt #GenderEquity #HiddenMessage #ComeOn #ContemporaryArt #SpanishArt\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Susana Blanco Art","offers":[{"title":"50 x 40 x 3.5 cm","offer_id":52676497080687,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/files\/Triumph-of-Tenacity_2a9e2c9d-560e-4709-aa69-60ad3645322c.jpg?v=1763642692"},{"product_id":"embracing-reflection","title":"Embracing Reflection","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eEncaustic on panel · 50 × 40 × 3.5 cm · 2025 Fragments of Silence collection Original artwork – unique piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA young woman stands before a shattered mirror, her reflection turned away, symbolising the quiet fracture of self-doubt under society's relentless beauty standards. From this single AI-generated fragment, the encaustic layers soften and heal the broken glass, transforming pain into tender acceptance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eHidden within the wax, the word \u003cstrong\u003e“Love”\u003c\/strong\u003e whispers gently, visible only to those who pause and look with care — a soft invitation to embrace one's true form without judgment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe QR code reveals the original raw AI image, contrasting the digital distortion with the warm, tactile truth of encaustic, urging the viewer to reclaim inner beauty and wholeness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA meditation on self-love that mends the cracks of imposed ideals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Susana Blanco Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52676644176239,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/files\/Embracing-Reflection_4e11cb90-922d-446a-b3d8-d022c015887f.jpg?v=1771140631"},{"product_id":"timeless-presence","title":"Timeless Presence","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eEncaustic on wooden panel · 50 × 40 × 3.5 cm · 2025 Fragments of Silence collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA serene close-up contrast of youth and age: a young girl and an older woman sit side by side in quiet dialogue, their expressions revealing curiosity and accumulated wisdom. From this poignant AI-generated fragment, the encaustic layers abstract the scene into a gentle tribute to the enduring beauty of lived experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eHidden within the wax, the word \u003cstrong\u003e“Wisdom”\u003c\/strong\u003e appears as a soft reminder of the depth maturity brings, visible only to those who pause and look with care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe work gently confronts a culture that often overlooks the silver threads of age in favour of fleeting youth. A QR code reveals the original AI image, contrasting the digital snapshot with the warm, tactile truth of encaustic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA quiet call to cherish the timeless presence that carries lessons across generations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Susana Blanco Art","offers":[{"title":"54 x 40 x 3.5 cm.","offer_id":52676786389359,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/files\/Timeless-Presence_c9c972e8-4e3d-4df3-aa40-0a490be9aeea.jpg?v=1771141036"},{"product_id":"veil-unjudged","title":"Veil Unjudged","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eEncaustic on wooden panel · 50 × 40 × 3.5 cm · 2025 Fragments of Silence collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA woman in a black hijab stands in an ancient marketplace, arms open in calm explanation, while accusing hands encircle her. From this single AI-generated fragment of quiet defiance, the encaustic layers abstract the scene into a powerful affirmation of inherent dignity and personal choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eHidden within the wax, the word \u003cstrong\u003e“Respect”\u003c\/strong\u003e rests as a subtle, urgent plea for honouring individual paths, visible only to those who look with deliberate care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe work challenges a society quick to judge rather than understand, urging viewers to seek deeper truth with purpose. A QR code reveals the original AI image, contrasting the raw scrutiny with the gentle depth of encaustic, inviting harmony beyond prejudice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Susana Blanco Art","offers":[{"title":"50 x 40 x 3.5 cm.","offer_id":52676866900335,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/files\/Veil-Unjudged_03bfc171-1e96-47a6-ac1e-b80641a6b6da.jpg?v=1771141453"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/2707\/3391\/collections\/collection-fragments-of-silence-susanablanco.jpg?v=1764684335","url":"https:\/\/susanablanco.com\/collections\/fragments-of-silence.oembed","provider":"Susana Blanco Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}